Kinesis

Kinesis

:"For the band, see Kinesis (band). For the ergonomic keyboard, see Kinesis (keyboard)."

Kinesis, like a taxis, is a movement or activity of a cell or an organism in response to a stimulus. However, unlike taxis, the response to the stimulus provided (such as humidity, light intensity or ambient temperature) is non-directional.

The two main types of kineses include:

Orthokinesis: in which the speed of movement of the individual is dependent upon the intensity of the stimulus. Take, for example, the locomotion of a woodlouse in relation to temperature. With increased humidity there is an increase in the percentage time that the woodlouse will remain stationary.

Klinokinesis: in which the frequency or rate of turning is proportional to stimulus intensity.

Both orthokinesis and klinokineses result in aggregations. However, it must be noted that the stimulus does not act to attract or repel individuals.

The same prefixes used with "taxis" can be applied to kineses; see also -kinesis.

ee also

*Brownian motion
*Nastic movements

References

*Kendeigh, S. Charles. 1961. "Animal Ecology". Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 468 p.


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • kinesis — (n.) physical movement, 1819, from Gk. kinesis movement, motion (see CITE (Cf. cite)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • kinesis — ► NOUN (pl. kineses) technical ▪ movement; motion. ORIGIN Greek …   English terms dictionary

  • kinesis — [ki nē′sis, kīnē′sis] n. pl. kineses [ki nē′sēz΄, kī nē′sēz΄] Physiol. physical movement, esp. involuntary random movement resulting from a particular stimulus: distinguished from TAXIS (sense 2) …   English World dictionary

  • -kinesis — I. kə̇ˈnēsə̇s, ˌkīˈ noun combining form (plural kineses) Etymology: New Latin, from Greek kinēsis 1. : activation chemo …   Useful english dictionary

  • -kinesis — For parapsychological uses (such as psionic abilities), see Psychokinesis. For fictional uses, such as pyrokinesis, see List of comic book superpowers. kinesis, from Greek κίνησις , movement, motion, is a suffix that denotes movement. The word… …   Wikipedia

  • kinesis — n. [Gr. kinesis, movement] Responses not directed to a variation in the stimulus or orientation of the body axis to the source of stimulation; movement resulting from a kinesis is random; see taxis, tropism …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • -kinesis — a combining form with the general sense movement, activity, used in the formation of compound words, often with the particular senses reaction to a stimulus (photokinesis), movement without an apparent physical cause (telekinesis), activity… …   Universalium

  • kinesis — noun a) the movement of an organism in response to an external stimulus b) Kinesis, like a taxis, is a movement or activity of a cell or an organism in response to a stimulus. However, unlike taxis, the movement can be in any direction or even… …   Wiktionary

  • -kinesis — aff. a combining form with the meaning “movement, activity,” often used with the more particular senses “reaction to a stimulus” (photokinesis), “movement without an apparent physical cause” (telekinesis), “activity within a cell” (karyokinesis)… …   From formal English to slang

  • kinesis — noun (plural kineses) Etymology: New Latin, from Greek kinēsis Date: 1905 a movement that lacks directional orientation and depends upon the intensity of stimulation …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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